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Monday, June 6, 2016

A Bunch of Small Paintings

I guess it is about time I posted something new after promising to keep this blog updated, so here we go.

Last month I went to a fun show and presentation at the Coppini Academy of Fine Arts in San Antonio, Texas. I was greeted as I walked up to the entrance I was greeted by artist and director of the Coppini Academy, Tony Pro. A gentleman and very fine artist I have been wanting to meet. Tony is revitalizing this fine academy. Not only is he teaching, but he is also bringing in top working artists to teach workshops. I hope this will inspire artists and patrons of the fine arts and contemporary realism to support these arts again. When I left San Antonio over 40 years ago there were good galleries showing realism of all styles and subjects. Today, there is one and it is almost an after thought since it is so small. The most established gallery here no longer shows new work by local and national artists that they used to. They buy art from art dealers who sell foreign artists. This gallery used to represent my work when I lived here and I consider the owner a friend. Now this is not meant as a knock or attack against these two galleries in a city of 2.3 million people. I understand a large part of this is the economy. The entire country is in these same doldrums. But I also feel there has been a lack of support or promotion for realism in this area. I am not sure why this is as I have yet to find places or groups of artists where they share what they are experiencing, talk about the art world and maybe what we as a group of artists can do to help the situation. Best I can find, so far is artists in the area are so spread out it is hard to get together without traveling some distance.

There are several good and nationally known galleries in Fredricksburg, Texas, Ensight, Whistle Pik, and RS Hanna Gallery and 70 miles north of San Antonio in the Texas Hill Country. I do not mean to leave any gallery out that may be there, I just am not aware of who the others are there or what or who they carry.

There is also one more nationally known and quality gallery in Wimberly, Texas, Pitzer's Fine Arts, roughly 50 miles north east of San Antonio and about half way to Austin. So far I do not know what Austin has for quality galleries. I understand the Gallery At Shoal Creek is still open, but I do not know what artists they carry today. A road trip is in order very soon to investigate what is happening in these areas, if anything. I will be taking a good selection of paintings with me after calling ahead to make sure owners are available and when it will be a good time to show them my work as I need to get a good gallery representation for my work in this area.

Now for something a little more positive. Not to say I meant the previous statements as negative, but a statement of fact and trying to figure out where best to look.

Lately, I have been painting a lot, and most are small paintings. I am also painting to sizes of frames I have on hand for the larger paintings. This studio has little space for storing frames and supplies and I could use the room being used for this storage. All of these small pieces are without frames. All of the 6x8's are priced at $400 each. The first landscape is $900 and the last flower piece in this post is $950.
So I guess I should stop babbling and show you some of what I have been doing. All of these paintings are available, unframed from my studio as mentioned. Contact me here in the comments or on Facebook. I have larger paintings also and will be posting them shortly.

I hope you enjoy these.

"The Meadows Edge"

12x8 oil on linen panel

"A Rose"

6x8 oil on linen panel

"Pink Rose"

6x8 oil on linen panel

"Hedgehog Blossom"

6x8 oil on linen panel

"White Rose"

6x8 oil on linen panel

This is a study I did for a larger painting. It is also a 6x8 oil on a linen panel

"Garden Color"

12x9 oil on linen panel

This painting was posted in my last entry to this blog. It has not been shown anyplace since, but hung on the studio wall. I did think it needed a new title, so I changed it. So there you have the small paintings, most hot off the easel. I am also working on some drawings I think many will enjoy and those will be posted in the near future. It has been a long time since I did black and white drawings as finished pieces. I have felt the need to do some drawings as I firmly believe that drawing is the foundation of good painting. Sure, I draw with paint and brushes when making a painting as we all do, that paint, but this is different, this is truly seeing one's subject and recording it accurately with line and values.

Many changes are coming in my work as I feel more confident, with a looser application of paint.I hope you do like what I am beginning to do. I have wanted to paint looser for years, but gallery and some collectors pressures kept me doing what I had been. The change will not be that radical, just looser. Stay tuned. More to come